CHARLES Tavengwa Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Harare Metropolitan Province says culture is a fuel for sustainable development.
He made the remarks at the Harare Culture Month commemorations at Magamba Hall in Warren Park, Harare, on Friday last week.
“Culture is not just a backdrop; it is a catalyst for sustainable development and economic growth. The completion of the National Development Strategy 1 reminds us that a nation’s strength lies in its identity and cultural preservation and promotion are essential for achieving our national aspirations,” Tavengwa said.
He said Culture Month offered a “unique opportunity to appreciate the vast array of cultural expressions that define the Zimbabwean experience, particularly in Harare province”.
“As a cosmopolitan hub, Harare showcases a rich blend of traditions, customs and values that illuminate our cultural identity,” Tavengwa said.
He said this year’s theme, Celebrating Indigenous Voices, encapsulated the spirit of our nation.
“Through our indigenous expressions, we articulate who we are within the broader cultural landscape. Let us revel in the vibrancy and vitality of our culture, recognising that it is only we, as a people, who can truly celebrate and consume our heritage,” Tavengwa said.
He said culture defined us as Zimbabweans within the global community, as it reflected our essence and embodied the collective psyche built upon the revered principles of Ubuntu or Hunhu. Zimbabwe has been commemorating Culture Month since 2002.
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May 21 is recognised by the United Nations, through Unesco, as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
Friday’s event had cultural performances with an above-standard act that probed a defining moment for the school and industry, with groups like Kuwadzana 1 High School, Bradford College, Horizon College, Sekuru Soro, Tatenda Tayt, Ukama Band, mbira groups, among others, providing memorable performances. Tavengwa said modernised choreographies were highly connecting and a gateway to international collaborations. He urged artistes to master and perfect Zimbabwean traditional dances, folklore and music for entertainment and cultural export.
Tavengwa said Zimbabwe’s journey to achieving an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 must integrate cultural heritage elements.
Performances by Kuwadzana 1 High School, Bradford College, Horizon College, Sekuru Soro, Tatenda Tayt, Ukama Band, mbira groups, among others, should be a good enough baseline to justify the need to provide schools and colleges with sufficient financial and material resources to develop their cultural and music departments.
Music teachers Malvin Joseph Nyakabau (Kuwadzana 1 High School), Kudzai Dzingwa (Granbliss Academy) and Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana (Music Crossroads Academy director) expressed gratitude to the organisers of the Culture Month commemorations and promised to be better prepared for future editions.
